Stenciling 101

Instructions

1. Surface to be stenciled should be clean and painted with a non-glossy paint. Prewash fabrics. (WARNING: Some colors may become deeper when ironed.) Different fabrics absorb paint differently. Practice on a separate piece of your fabric.
2. Practice stenciling on paper. These prints can then be taped in place to check design placement and color.
3. Lightly mark the area to be stenciled to coincide with guidelines printed on the stencil.
4. Blot off excess paint onto paper towel until brush is "dry" and seems almost out of paint.
5. Place Print #1 of your stencil in correct position and tape to surface with Repositionable stencil adhesive spray.
6. Hold brush as a pencil with bristles flat on surface and handle straight. (Notice bristles of a stencil brush are specially cut for this action.) Start at outside edges of cutouts and paint in a circular, clockwise motion toward the center. Hold your stencil with the other hand. Begin with a light touch.
7. Now reverse direction to a counter-clockwise motion, building up color. You control the color in 2 ways - amount of pressure applied on brush and number of times you go over an area of the design. Lift stencil corner and check color before removing stencil.
8. If a two print stencil, align Print #2, using the register marks as guides for proper placement over previously stenciled area. Change to a clean brush when changing paint colors. When doing a wall border, remember to follow your "center line" guideline on stencil to keep your work level.
9. CLEAN-UP: Clean stencil with paper towel which has been dampened with turpentine or mineral spirits if using oil based paint or water for water based paint.
10. FINISHING: Follow curing and heat setting guidelines per paint manufacturers recommendations.